INTEGRATED STUDY OF MUSCULOSKELETAL LOSS AND RESTORATION

描述(申请人提供)：对停用后肌肉骨骼恢复的控制机制知之甚少。然而，有证据表明，随着年龄的增长，丢失组织的修复会受到损害。肌肉和骨骼中的前体细胞功能随着年龄的增长而改变，这可能是导致恢复率下降的原因之一。本研究的目的是研究组织特异性前体细胞在后肢悬吊大鼠骨丢失和肌肉萎缩的恢复过程中的作用，并确定这一过程是否存在年龄差异。我们假设，随着年龄的增长，组织特异性前体细胞功能的改变会损害肌肉骨骼质量的恢复。我们方法的优势在于，肌肉和骨骼成分将在同一动物中进行研究，有助于评估两个系统之间的相互作用和共同机制的整合。在目标1中，我们将调查增龄是否降低了HS引起的肌肉骨骼萎缩的恢复能力(通过移位)。我们将研究肌肉和骨骼的丧失与其修复能力之间的时间相关性。目的2探讨骨骼和肌肉中前体细胞功能和细胞凋亡的潜在机制是否随着年龄的增长而改变，并有助于体内组织丢失后受损的恢复。在目标3中，将分离骨髓干细胞和成肌细胞，并在体外确定增殖、分化和凋亡反应，以研究这些过程中与年龄相关的变化是否有助于肌肉骨骼质量的萎缩和受损的恢复。我们的初步数据表明，BMP信号的改变与年龄有关，这可能是骨骼修复能力减弱的原因。BMP是否是衰老和废弃过程中骨骼和肌肉调节机制基础下的共同靶点将被确定。最后，在目标4中，我们将在体外和体内研究胰岛素样生长因子(IGF)-1途径的变化是否参与了肌肉骨骼质量随年龄增长而受损的恢复。总之，这些研究将为老年动物在停用后恢复肌肉骨骼完整性的能力受损背后的细胞机制提供重要的见解。我们成熟的研究肌肉和骨骼的综合方法将使我们能够阐明肌肉骨骼系统在衰老过程中反应的共同机制。与公共健康相关：年龄增长与肌肉和骨量的丧失有关，目前尚不清楚老年人的肌肉骨骼系统在停用一段时间后，其恢复能力是否有所不同。在这项研究中，我们将确定与年龄相关的祖细胞功能变化的共同机制。确定这些影响肌肉和骨骼完整性的常见途径可能会导致药物或治疗干预的假定靶点。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mechanisms controlling musculoskeletal recovery following disuse are poorly understood. However, there is evidence that the restoration of lost tissue is impaired with aging. Precursor cell function in both muscle and bone is altered with advancing age, which may contribute to the decreased recovery. The goal of this proposal is to investigate the role of tissue-specific precursor cells during the recovery from bone loss and muscle atrophy in response to hind-limb suspension (HS) in rats, and to determine whether there are age- associated differences in this process. We hypothesize that changes in the function of tissue-specific precursor cells impair the restoration of musculoskeletal mass with advancing age. The strength of our approach is that both muscle and skeletal components will be studied in the same animals, facilitating evaluation of the interaction between the two systems and the integration of common mechanisms. In Aim 1, we will investigate whether advancing age decreases the capacity to recover (by reambulation) the musculoskeletal atrophy induced by HS. The temporal correlation between loss of muscle and bone and their capacity for restoration will be investigated. Aim 2 addresses whether the underlying mechanisms of precursor cell function and apoptosis in bone and muscle are changed with aging and contribute to the impaired recovery from lost tissue in vivo. In Aim 3, bone marrow stem cells and myoblasts will be isolated, and proliferation, differentiation, and apoptotic responses in vitro determined to investigate whether age- associated changes in these processes contribute to atrophy and impaired restoration of musculoskeletal mass. Our preliminary data suggest an age-dependent role for altered BMP signaling, that may account for diminished restorative capacity in bone. Whether BMP is a common target underlying the mechanistic basis of bone and muscle regulation during aging and disuse will be determined. Finally, in Aim 4 we will investigate in vitro and in vivo whether changes in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 pathway are involved in the impaired restoration of musculoskeletal mass with aging. Together, these studies will provide important insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying the impaired ability of older animals to recover musculoskeletal integrity after disuse. Our proven integrative approach for studying muscle and bone will enable us to elucidate common mechanisms underlying the responsiveness of the musculoskeletal system during aging. Relevance to public health: Advancing age is associated with a loss of muscle as well as bone mass and it is unknown whether the musculoskeletal system in older individuals differs in its restorative capacity after periods of disuse. In this study we will identify common mechanisms underlying age-related changes in progenitor cell function. Identifying these common pathways influencing muscle and bone integrity could lead to putative targets for pharmacologic or therapeutic interventions.